Work in progress - Heavy general purpose/gunsmithing bench

[u/JohnnySpartacus]

This is turning out pretty decent. It's based on the simple plans from EZWoodshop.com. I expanded it to 96x24", added a middle pair of legs, put adjustable casters on all of the legs, made a massively heavy and very flat 4-layer glued bench top from 3 layers of 3/4" oak plywood and a layer of 3/4" MDF, and topped it with a sacrificial layer of 3/16" Masonite screwed in with countersunk 1" drywall screws. Turned the Masonite upside down to expose the textured undersurface to keep little pins and springs and screws from rolling away. Bench height is 36" which is good for a taller guy like me working with guns. Bottom shelf is a layer of 3/4 plywood, 3/4 MDF, and another layer of masonite, smooth side up. A short backsplash was made with a strip of 3/4 plywood left over after trimming the bottom shelf to width. Mounted a power strip with USB to it, and a magnetic strip for short term tool storage. Also put Yost multi-mount 2" receivers at each end for use with my general purpose vise, arbor press, grinder, and gunsmithing vise from Real Avid. Replaced the M6 anti-wobble set screws in the multi-mounts with big thumb screws from McMaster-Carr. Also added a small removable trim router table from Wood Grain Junkies front and center for occasional use. The table is close to being done although I am still contemplating custom shelves or perhaps some pre-built shelves that would fit in the space above the lower shelf. The table is extremely stable and flat, and cranking things in a vise with a torque wrench doesn't move it at all. I'm due to have a 72" cabinet toolbox from Harbor Freight delivered next month, which will sit to its left, and the back and right side walls above the bench will be covered in OmniWall pegboard for my most commonly used tools.

[u/jollyjava7]

With that top I think you can switch to cannon-smithing.

It’s looking really good! The receiver setup looks cool but I feel like it would be nice to keep the work surface clear by mounting it on the side or bottom of the work top. I have my vice on the corner of one of my workbenches and sometimes it would be nice to have the area open, the receivers are smaller and more versatile but might still get in the way once in a while.

[u/Avg_Chicken → u/jollyjava7]

Adding to this idea, it looks like your top is thick enough to incorporate the receiver. Maybe cut a notch in the top to submerge the receiver. Otherwise, sweet bench and impressive safe.

[u/JohnnySpartacus → u/Avg_Chicken]

I gave some thought to burying them in the tabletop, but couldn’t think of how to get the interlocking clevis in and out to keep the table securely locked in the receiver. 

I also thought of putting them underneath, upside down, but then the whole weight of the vise plus any force I applied to it would be resting on the two small thumbscrews, and also the geometry of the stretchers supporting the tabletop interfered with the placement of the receiver. I could have cut into the stretcher but that would have weakened my ultra strong table.  

If I ever need to remove one or both receivers for a particularly large project, I’ll unscrew the four 5/8” bolts and it will come right off. But if that became a routine, I’d make another bench just for woodworking, with front and tail vises and a pattern of dog-holes.

The safe is a vault door from Brown Safe in California. I have a 16x8 vault for firearms and other valuables behind it. Cinder block walls with multiple rebars and grout in every cell. Capped with 1” steel plate and 6” of poured concrete. 

[u/Avg_Chicken → u/JohnnySpartacus]

Wow! That’s an awesome safe.

Sounds like a lot of thought went into the work bench. It’s a tool, and if it’s doing what you want, then it’s perfect.

[u/JohnnySpartacus → u/Avg_Chicken]

I had some extra plywood lying around and wanted something I could beat on just as hard as I wanted, put anything on it up to the weight of an engine block, and never warp. I think it will be successful.

[u/davidwbrand]

Having the receiver mounted is such a game changer. It’s one of the favorite things I’ve done on my own bench.

[u/JohnnySpartacus → u/davidwbrand]

Yeah I am buying a few more of the removable tool tables. One for my Dremel mini-drill press and one for a reloading press and one spare for other items I haven’t thought of yet. Maybe a combo belt/disk sander.

[u/kusqen]

Where do you find these vise adaptors and mounts

[u/JohnnySpartacus → u/kusqen]

Amazon or Eastwood.com. Look for “Yost Multi-Mount.”

[u/budluv33]

Very nice! Can’t wait to see it all done.

[u/LongWest6498]

Ooooooo …. Likey

[u/NormalCartographer84]

Please post where you got those mounts? Looks great man

[u/JohnnySpartacus → u/NormalCartographer84]

You can get them on Amazon or at Eastwood.com

[u/aussiewelderfishermn]

I like the receivers, I want to put at least 2 on my workbench I'm currently building, but I want then underneath the bench top so I don't have anything in my way when I'm building larger projects